Sand pump



Oct. 10, 1961 R. A. YATES SAND PUMP Filed Dec. 27, 1957 INVENTOR Ray A. Yates ATTORNEY 3,003,562 SAND PUMP Ray A. Yates, Midland, Tex., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Fred W. Cook, Odessa, Tex.

Filed Dec. 27, 1957, Ser. No. 705,531 3 Claims. (Cl. 166-408) This invention relates to a sand pump, and it concerns more particularly a device comprising a cylindrical receptacle having a valved opening in its lower end and a plunger reciprocable therein, adapted to be lowered in a well on a wire line and thereafter withdrawn from the well with its contents, for use in cleaning the well.

In the recovery of oil from producing wells it is sometimes necessary to clean the well, to remove therefrom accumulations of sand and the like which tend to retard the flow of oil from the well. Various means are ordinarily provided to prevent sand from the oil-bearing earth formation from entering the Well. Nevertheless sand may accumulate in a well to such extent that the flow of oil therefrom may be substantially retarded.

In completing a well, the annular space between the well casing and the producing string usually is sealed olf above the producing formation, and the producing string is provided with a screen adjacent its lower end which permits well fluids toenter the producing string while excluding sand therefrom. The casing is perforated op posite the producing formation, and the well may be packed with gravel to form a coarse screen about the perforations of the casing which further assists in preventing sand from entering the well.

Notwithstanding the usual precautions, the accumulation of sand and the like in a well ultimately may be sufficient to substantially retard the flow of oil therefrom, so that further operation of the well may be unprofitable. Because of its high specific gravity and its immiscibility with the well fluids, sand entering a well. tends to settle on the bottom thereof, to thereby plug the well. It cannot be pumped out of the well with the well fluids.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a device comprising a cylindrical receptacle having a valved opening in its lower end and a plunger reciprocable therein, adapted to be lowered in a well on a wire line and thereafter withdrawn from the well with its contents, for use in cleaning the well.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the type described in which the plunger is operable, by manipulation of the wire line, to forcibly introduce fluids into the cylinder from the well, through the valved opening.

The invention will be readily understood by referring to the following description and the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURES l and 1a together comprise an elevational view, partly in section taken on a median line, of a sand pump embodying the invention, showing the plunger as it appears on its downward stroke; and

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary view similar to FIGURES 1 and 1a, showing the plunger as it appears on its upward stroke.

Referring to the drawing, the sand pump of the invention includes an elongated tubular housing 1. The housing 1 is removably connected at its upper end, by suitable means, to a tubular closure member 2.. The closure member 2 is threaded externally at its upper end, as at 3, for engagement by a fishing tool, and is enlarged externally intermediate its ends to form an upwardly facing, downwardly and radially outwardly tapered external shoulder 4. A downwardly facing external shoulder S is formed on the closure member 2 adjacent its lower end for enatent 3,003,562 Patented Get. 10, 19 61 upper end of a set shoe 8, which is adapted to support the sand pump on the bottom of the well. The set shoe 8 is enlarged externally intermediate its ends to form an upwardly facing external shoulder 9 for engagement with the lower end of the housing 1.

The set shoe 8 has a downwardly and radially outwardly tapered central bore 10. An annular recess 11, which comprises an enlargement of the bore 10, is formed in the upper end of the set shoe 8. A valve seat 12, which is received and welded in the recess 11, is normally closed by a flapper-type check valve 13. The valve 13 is capable of admitting fluids to the interior of the housing 1 while preventing the discharge of fluids therefrom.

A plurality of circumferentially spaced radial grooves 14, which are formed in the under side of the set shoe 8, are in fluid communication with the central bore 10 and extend radially outwardly therefrom for use as fluid inlet passages.

A plunger as hereinafter described, which is indicated generally by the numeral 15, is reciprocable in the housing 1. The plunger 15 includes an elongated rod 16, which is rigidly connected at its upper end to the lower end of an outer rope socket 17. The outer rope socket 17 is generally cylindrical, is closed at its lower end, and has an internal flange 18 formed on its upper end, which is open.

The outer rope socket 17 has a pair of elongated side openings 19 on opposite sides thereof for the reception of a sleeve-like inner rope socket 2i), which has an outside diameter corresponding to the inside diameter of the outer rope socket 17. A wire rope 21 is attached to the inner rope socket 211, as hereinafter described, and extends upwardly therefrom, through the upper end of the outer rope socket 17 and through the closure member 2. As seen in the drawing, there is fluid passage space between the rope 21 and closure member 2, thereby providing a fluid outlet at the top of the tool.

The inside diameter of the inner rope socket 20 is progressively reduced, by stages, intermediate its ends to form a series of downwardly facing internal shoulders 22. The rope 21 has one of its ends inserted through the upper end of the inner rope socket 20. A body of molded metal 23 is formed about the end of the rope 21, within the inner rope socket 24), whereby the rope 21 is secured.

in the inner rope socket 211.

The upper end of the inner rope socket 20 engages the internal flange 18 of the outer rope socket 17, and is secured in abutting relation thereto by a set screw 24, which is received in a threaded opening provided therefor in the side wall of the outer rope socket 17.

The upper end of the outer rope socket 17 is beveled externally, as at 25, for engagement with the internally beveled lower end 6 of the closure member 2 to thereby.

limit the upward movement of the plunger 15 relative to the closure member 2.

An annular member 26, which surrounds the rod 16 and is secured thereto by a pin 27, is positioned immediately below the outer rope socket 17. The outside diameter of the annular member 26 is substantially less than the inside diameter of the housing 1, whereby a annular space is provided between the annular member 26 and the housing 1. A pair of diametrically opposed radial grooves 28 are formed in the under side of the annular member 26 for use as fluid passages.

A plurality of annular valve members 29, each of which surrounds the rod 16 and is secured thereto by a pin 30, are positioned below the annular member 26, in spaced relation to each other and to the annular member 26. The outside diameter of the valve members 29 is substantially less than the inside diameter of the housing 1, whereby annular spaces are provided between the valve members 29 and the housing 1. A pair of diametrically opposed radial grooves 31 are formed in the under side of each of the valve members 29 for use as fluid passages. The upper faces of the valve members 29 are beveled externally, as at 32, for use as hereinafter described.

A plurality of annular valve seats 33, each of which loosely surrounds the rod 16, are positioned above the respective valve members 29, and slidably engage the housing 1. A peripheral groove 34 is formed in each of the valve seats 33. The inside diameter of the valve seats 33 is substantially greater than the diameter of the rod 16, whereby annular spaces 39 are provided between the valve seats 33 and the rod 16. The lower faces of the valve seats 33 are beveled internally, as at 36, for engagement with the externally beveled upper faces 32 of the valve members 29.

In operation, the sand pump of the invention, as above described, is lowered in a well on the wire rope 21. Upon lowering the device in the well, the plunger 15 is in its uppermost position relative to the housing 1, and each of the valve seats 33 is in engagement with the valve member 29 immediately thereabove.

After the device has been lowered in a well to the elevation at which it is intended to be operated, the plunger 15 is alternately raised and lowered relative to the housing 1 until the housing 1 is completely filled with well fluids, including sand and the like. Thereafter the device is returned to the surface by means of the wire rope 21.

Upon lowering the plunger 15 relative to the housing 1, by manipulation of the wire rope 21, the check valve 13 is closed, and the valve seats 33 are disengaged from the respective valve members 29 by fluid pressure acting on the lower faces 38 of the valve seats 33. Fluid displaced by the rod 16 and the valve members 29 is forced upwardly, through the annular spaces between the valve members 29 and the housing 1, through the annular spaces between the upper faces 32 of the valve members 29 and the lower faces of the valve seats 33, through the annular spaces between the rod 16 and the valve seats 33, and through the radial grooves 31 and 28 formed in the under sides of the valve members 29 and the annular member 26, respectively, above the corresponding valve seats 33. This arrangement permits the plunger 15 to be lowered readily relative to the housin 1.

011 each successive upward stroke of the plunger 15, the valve seats 33 engage the valve members 29, and are movable upwardly therewith. The valve seats 33 and the valve members 29 together act as a series of pistons whereby the fluid contents of the housing 1 are advanced upwardly by stages, a partial vacuum is applied to the interior of the housing 1 below the respective valve seats 33 and valve members 29, and a suction is applied to the check valve 13, which is opened.

The invention may be modified in various ways with out departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

l. Asand pump comprising:

an elongated, normally vertically disposed tubular housing,

' a tubular closure member removably connected to the upper end of the housing,

a set shoe removably connected to the lower end of the housing,

a check valve in the set shoe capable of admitting fluids to the interior of the housing while preventing the discharge of fluids therefrom,

a plunger reciprocable in the housing, the plunger consisting of an elongated rod disposed vertically within the housing,

a rope socket rigidly connected to the upper end of the rod and adapted to be connected to one end of a wire rope,

a plurality of longitudinally spaced annular valve members each surrounding the rod and rigidly connected thereto,

a plurality of annular valve seats, each loosely surrounding the rod and each positioned above one of the valve members, the valve seats slidably engaging the housing and the arrangement being such that the valve seats are seated on the respective valve members, to thereby form a series of pistons, upon movement of the plunger upwardly relative to the housing,

the outside diameter of the valve members being substantially less than the inside of the housing whereby annular spaces are provided between the valve members and the housing,

the inside diameter of the valve seats being substantially greater than the diameter of the rod whereby annular spaces are provided between the rod and the valve seats, and

there being fluid passages between the bottom of the valve members and the top of the valve seats.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which each of said valve seats has a peripheral groove in that portion which is slidably engaging the housing.

3. A sand pump comprising:

an elongated, normally vertically disposed tubular housa tubular closure member removably connected to the upper end of the housing,

a set shoe removably connected to the lower end of the housing,

a check valve in the set shoe capable of admitting fluids to the interior of the housing While preventing the discharge of fluids therefrom,

a plunger reciprocable in the housing, the plunger consisting of an elongated rod disposed vertically within the housing,

a rope socket rigidly connected to the upper end of the rod and adapted to be connected to one end of a wire rope,

a plurality of longitudinally spaced annular valve members each surrounding the rod and rigidly connected thereto,

a plurality of annular valve seats, each loosely surrounding the rod and each positioned above one of the valve members, the valve seats slidably engaging the housing and the arrangement being such that the valve seats are seated on the respective valve members, to thereby form a series of pistons, upon movement of the plunger upwardly relative to the housing,

the outside diameter of the valve members being substantially less than the inside of the housing whereby annular spaces are provided between the valve members and the housing,

the inside diameter of the valve seats being substantially greater than the diameter of the rod whereby annular spaces are provided between the rod and the valve seats, and l the lower face of each valve member having at least one radial groove formed therein, said groove providing fluid passage between respective valve members and valve seats immediately below them upon downward movement of the plunger relative to the housing.

(References on following page) References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Hussey Aug. 20, 1872 Palm June 30, 1896 Swan May 12, 1925 6 Melo May 26, 1936 Carlson Nov. 17, 1936 Eger Mar. 27, 1945 Reynolds Nov. 30, 1948 Simmons Aug. 25, 1953 

